Clerk at Bergen County courthouse facing drug charges

A court clerk at the Bergen County courthouse is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail after being arrested in a Lodi home over the weekend and charged with drug distribution.

Juan Silva, 29, was at the Main Street home of a friend when State Police investigators executed a search warrant on Feb. 15 as part of an ongoing investigation, said Sgt. Gregory Williams, spokesman for the State Police.

Williams did not discuss the nature of the investigation, but said a gang unit and a tactical emergency team executed the search warrant.

Police found five grams of a controlled dangerous substance, Williams said, but he did not desscribe what type of drugs was found.

Edward Munoz, 30, who lived at the home, tried unsuccessfully to destroy the drugs while police entered, Williams said.

Both men were arrested at the scene and charged with possession and distribution of drugs. Munoz faces an additional count of tampering with evidence and was being held Thursday at the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Munoz also is charged with child endangerment because his newborn baby was in the house at the time, Williams said. The baby’s mother was called to the scene after the arrests and took custody of the child, Williams said.

Silva, who address was not provided by authorities, has been employed at the Bergen County courthouse since 2003 and most recently worked as a court clerk in Hackensack for a state Superior Court judge in the civil division.

Laura Simoldoni, human resources manager at the Bergen County courthouse, said Thursday that court officials are reviewing the case to decide Silva’s fate.

Clerk at Bergen County courthouse facing drug charges

A court clerk at the Bergen County courthouse is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail after being arrested in a Lodi home over the weekend and charged with drug distribution.

Juan Silva, 29, was at the Main Street home of a friend when State Police investigators executed a search warrant on Feb. 15 as part of an ongoing investigation, said Sgt. Gregory Williams, spokesman for the State Police.

Williams did not discuss the nature of the investigation, but said a gang unit and a tactical emergency team executed the search warrant.

Police found five grams of a controlled dangerous substance, Williams said, but he did not desscribe what type of drugs was found.

Edward Munoz, 30, who lived at the home, tried unsuccessfully to destroy the drugs while police entered, Williams said.

Both men were arrested at the scene and charged with possession and distribution of drugs. Munoz faces an additional count of tampering with evidence and was being held Thursday at the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Munoz also is charged with child endangerment because his newborn baby was in the house at the time, Williams said. The baby’s mother was called to the scene after the arrests and took custody of the child, Williams said.

Silva, who address was not provided by authorities, has been employed at the Bergen County courthouse since 2003 and most recently worked as a court clerk in Hackensack for a state Superior Court judge in the civil division.

Laura Simoldoni, human resources manager at the Bergen County courthouse, said Thursday that court officials are reviewing the case to decide Silva’s fate.